We took a cosmetic chemist shopping to find flake-free mascaras. You won't believe our top picks

The promise: For flake-haters, Frey recommends tube mascaras -- the kind that slip off lashes with water and light pressure. "That film holds its integrity," Frey explains. "It goes on in a very liquid way and surrounds the entire eyelash ... like a sock."

The reality: I start with the tubing version of Too Faced's most popular mascara. True to form, this mascara goes on clump-free and glossy-looking. And, as Frey predicted, flakes are next to none. Ladies who love tubing mascaras can attest to their staying power.

The only bummer: this "extreme thickening" mascara made my lashes look wimpy. According to Frey, there are always trade-offs with product formula as "complex" as mascara. "All mascaras try and do all things for people," Frey says, "but there's always going to be some compromise in that process."

If you have naturally lush lashes and hate clumps and flakes, this mascara won't let you down. For those of you who need a little more oomph, consider looking elsewhere.